Do you know what a blue or pink badge next to some agencies and freelancers on Upwork mean? In order to have reasonable expectations from freelancers with this status, it is good to know what TOP RATED and TOP RATED PLUS are.
Here is how Top Rated agencies stand out:
- You can be sure your project will succeed – Job Success Score is 90% or higher.
- You can review all information about the agency and agency members – Complete agency and member profiles with logo, overview, and services.
- You know exactly when you can have your project done – Up-to-date availability or a set estimate.
- You can be sure of the agency credibility – Account in good standing with no disputes with clients for at least 6 months.
- You know you will be answered – Active on the platform in the past 90 days.
TOP RATED PLUS agencies besides maintaining Top Rated status, must have the following:
- Total earnings over $20,000 in the past 12 months.
- Working with large contracts (different for categories, starting with $10,000).
Freelancers and agencies with this badge represent the top talent on Upwork. Etcetera received a Top Rated Plus badge as soon as the concept was introduced. We matched all the criteria before that, and we still do.
More Articles
How SEO Is Changing in the Age of AI
21-10-2025
AI is transforming search. Learn how SEO evolves into AEO and GEO — where visibility means being cited in AI answers, not just ranked in results.
Keeping the Human Mind Sharp When AI Can Do It All
16-10-2025
AI makes work easier, but thinking harder. Learn how to stay creative, critical, and human in the age of intelligent machines.
AI Workslop: Why Businesses Pay Freelancers to Fix AI
07-10-2025
AI speeds up work but often creates “workslop” - results that look complete yet lack value. Freelancers are the ones turning them into quality.
Disney Creative Strategy: How Ideas Become Reality
03-10-2025
Disney Creative Strategy: dream, plan, critique — a tool to guide ideas from imagination to real-world results.
Upwork Boost: Increasing Freelancer Profile Visibility
29-09-2025
Discover how Upwork’s Available Now badge and Profile Boost work, their costs, pros and cons, and which boost is best for freelancers or agencies.
10 Posts to Help You Get Started on Upwork
29-09-2025
We’ve gathered a set of articles to guide you through the essentials — from setting up your profile to building long-term client relationships.
Etcetera summer 2025 report
26-09-2025
Etcetera summer 2025 results: quiet season, new team members, shifting Upwork rules, and plans for an active autumn.
Upwork Feedback: a trust tool you should learn to read and write
22-09-2025
Upwork feedback is more than stars — it builds trust, shapes reputation, and guides choices. Learn how to read, request, and write reviews effectively
7 Hats: a thinking tool that saves time and nerves
08-09-2025
Instead of mixing emotions, facts, and criticism in chaos — this method by Edward de Bono helps separate thinking modes.
Upwork: From Simple Fees to Pay-to-Play
29-08-2025
Discover how Upwork’s fees evolved from flat 10% to a pay-to-play model with Connects, boosts, and variable 0-15% commissions in 2025.
Upwork Reset 2025: How to Refresh Your Freelance Strategy
25-08-2025
Discover 5 practical steps to reset your Upwork strategy in 2025: update skills, rethink pricing, optimize proposals, and grow with the market.
How to Build a Team That Won’t Fall Apart in a Crisis
22-08-2025
How to build a strong team that survives crises: Denys Safonov shares lessons from 11 years of leading the agency Etcetera through global challenges.
